Great Valley officials vote to keep tax options open

EAST WHITELAND -- Great Valley school officials are keeping their options open for next year's budget.

An official vote on raising taxes to balance the spending plan will not take place until June 2012, according to board President David Barratt, but the board agreed to keep open the possibility that a tax hike may exceed the limit set by the state before asking voters for approval.

"We're not ratifying the budget; we're not approving a tax increase," board member Ellen Behrle stressed at the board's Monday meeting.

A resolution passed by the board Monday gives the school district the option of seeking exceptions that in turn would allow for a property tax increase over the state's limit of 1.7 percent.

The vote to approve the resolution was 5-4, with board members Bruce Chambers, Ted Leisenring, Philip Foret, and Mary Ravenfield opposed.

According to the resolution:

"The preliminary budget proposal will assume that the school district will receive approval for use of one or more Act 1 real estate tax referendum exceptions. The board members agreed that they will make a proposed preliminary budget available for public inspection at least 20 days prior to the date scheduled for adoption of the preliminary budget."

Several members noted that their vote was not about using the exceptions but about keeping the option to use them open.

"We have to make decisions now that we haven't seen a budget for," said board President David Barratt. "So to close a door on options that we may or may not use at this point is just crazy. The goal of the budget process is to look at all of our options, and then in June vote on a budget."

Board member Jenn Armstrong echoed Barratt's statements and suggested forming community groups to act as a budget advisory panel similar to the budget task force formed by West Chester Area School District.

Chambers disagreed. "I come down on the other side of this," he said. "I think we need to stick within Act 1. We need to be a little tighter on the budget."

Chambers said the board should not consider applying for the exceptions, and he suggested using the district's cash reserves to close any budget gaps for 2012-13.

"We can use that money for whatever we want," he said. "We do have flexibility there."

Leisenring said his vote on the matter reflects e-mails he received from residents.

"Overwhelmingly, I only saw one (e-mail) asking us to (use the Act 1 exceptions)," said Leisenring. "Not only do we need to listen to you, but we need to stay within the law. We have to follow the rules."

Board Member Andrew Daga recalled last year when the exceptions were considered as an option although the school district did not exceed the state limit or use available exceptions.

District residents expressed concern over the resolution before and after the board's vote.

Cynthia McSweeny, a former school board candidate, urged the board to stay below the state limit. "I would suggest we dig in," she said. "I don't think we have to hurt the education of the children."

Scott Johnson of Charleston Oaks asked, "Where is this money? What's the game plan to show us (where) exactly it's going to go?"

After the vote, Johnson said he was disappointed that a majority of the board did not seem to want to put in the hard work needed to balance the budget without a "safety net."

"For the last four or five years, the new normal is more with less," said resident Frank Otir. "That's the new normal that the education system has to adapt to. Any increase (has) to have very clearly stated, measurable goals as to what the student is going to get for those dollars that are going to be spent."

Some residents said they approved of the board's vote. Margaret Ricker said previous board decisions to increase class sizes, decrease staff, and alter the curriculum are what she finds unsuitable.

"In terms of where the cuts come and who they affect, it's the children who get educated in our schools," said Ricker. "Our children are the ones who suffer."

Superintendent Alan Lonoconus said several public budget presentations will be made over the next six months.